How a TT is built
I found an interesting link to a video if anyone is curious how a travel trailer is built. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11U0McUKlw8
Forum Discussion
Some causes of quality problems as I see it are:
Some may not like codes, standards and regulations, but without them, substandard quality is a result. In the building construction industry as a comparison, when it comes to nailing for example, nail length, type, size, spacing and nailing pattern are specified. There is a formalized inspection process by a building inspector and/or engineer. If something isn't correct, it has to be redone. If something failed because it wasn't done right, there can be serious consequences. When it comes to building a TT, it is the complete opposite. Materials and individual components may be certified by CSA, UL, etc. but an RV manufacturer can do whatever they want in assembling one.
A quality assurance/management program when properly designed and properly executed will lead to consistently better quality, lower defect rates, less warranty work required in the field, higher customer satisfaction, improved productivity and lower overall costs for a manufacturer. These programs are a system of checks and balances from start to finish in a manufacturing process that checks along the way to see if what they said would be done has been done. It does NOT lead to increased costs unless it was improperly put together and improperly executed along the way. There are MANY organizations now, service and manufacturing, that use the ISO quality assurance/management programs.
Lippert has a quality assurance program but I'm not sure what it is. I thought it was mentioned on their home page but I can't see it now. But they recently had an ad for a quality asurance engineer. If Lippert has a quality control program, why can't a TT manufacturer? I think part of it is that there is a pervasive culture thing in the industry. Interestingly, China has more ISO 9001 registered companies than the US by about a factor of 10 to 1. However, a quality control program is only as good as the quality of the original design of something. If the design is substandard to start with, having a quality control program isn't to help a whole lot.
I still can't believe some of the poor quality things I've come across in TTs. The photo below is a failed weld in aluminum framing in the superstructure of a TT. This is the sort of thing that happens without the existence of any codes and standards for building a TT. The weld is only on one of the 4 side of the square tubing. The weld is "incomplete" and poor quality. If you have an aluminum framed TT, take down a skylight trim or speaker and look at a weld and you may very likely see the same type of weld quality. If someone develops a leak in a seam or corner somewhere, perhaps it's due to a failed weld(s) something like this underneath? TT manufacturers get away with this sort of thing because it's hidden in walls and ceiling where you can't see it. Don't be thinking that your aluminum framed TT is way superior to how that Jayco was built in the video, because it just may not be.
Even if the cost of a TT did go up slightly, why would anyone not want to pay a bit more. The resale value would be higher, it would last longer and there'd be fewer things to get fixed during or after the warranty period.
- Lack of codes, standards and regulations.
- Lack of any outside agency or organization that you can lodge a complaint with to check compliance with codes, standards and regulations and who will take actions as needed against a manufacturer.
- Lack of quality assurance/management programs such as the ISO 9000 family of programs.
Some may not like codes, standards and regulations, but without them, substandard quality is a result. In the building construction industry as a comparison, when it comes to nailing for example, nail length, type, size, spacing and nailing pattern are specified. There is a formalized inspection process by a building inspector and/or engineer. If something isn't correct, it has to be redone. If something failed because it wasn't done right, there can be serious consequences. When it comes to building a TT, it is the complete opposite. Materials and individual components may be certified by CSA, UL, etc. but an RV manufacturer can do whatever they want in assembling one.
A quality assurance/management program when properly designed and properly executed will lead to consistently better quality, lower defect rates, less warranty work required in the field, higher customer satisfaction, improved productivity and lower overall costs for a manufacturer. These programs are a system of checks and balances from start to finish in a manufacturing process that checks along the way to see if what they said would be done has been done. It does NOT lead to increased costs unless it was improperly put together and improperly executed along the way. There are MANY organizations now, service and manufacturing, that use the ISO quality assurance/management programs.
Lippert has a quality assurance program but I'm not sure what it is. I thought it was mentioned on their home page but I can't see it now. But they recently had an ad for a quality asurance engineer. If Lippert has a quality control program, why can't a TT manufacturer? I think part of it is that there is a pervasive culture thing in the industry. Interestingly, China has more ISO 9001 registered companies than the US by about a factor of 10 to 1. However, a quality control program is only as good as the quality of the original design of something. If the design is substandard to start with, having a quality control program isn't to help a whole lot.
I still can't believe some of the poor quality things I've come across in TTs. The photo below is a failed weld in aluminum framing in the superstructure of a TT. This is the sort of thing that happens without the existence of any codes and standards for building a TT. The weld is only on one of the 4 side of the square tubing. The weld is "incomplete" and poor quality. If you have an aluminum framed TT, take down a skylight trim or speaker and look at a weld and you may very likely see the same type of weld quality. If someone develops a leak in a seam or corner somewhere, perhaps it's due to a failed weld(s) something like this underneath? TT manufacturers get away with this sort of thing because it's hidden in walls and ceiling where you can't see it. Don't be thinking that your aluminum framed TT is way superior to how that Jayco was built in the video, because it just may not be.
Even if the cost of a TT did go up slightly, why would anyone not want to pay a bit more. The resale value would be higher, it would last longer and there'd be fewer things to get fixed during or after the warranty period.
